Every trader who has been in the crypto world has wrestled with this question—when the market is falling, they want to buy the dip but are afraid of getting caught halfway; when the market is rising, they want to chase the high but fear missing out or catching the last leg.

The root of this dilemma actually lies in the choice between left-side trading and right-side trading.

Neither approach is absolutely right or wrong; it depends on your market judgment ability and emotional resilience. Understanding the strategies and pitfalls of each can help you truly seize opportunities.

**The Temptation and Trap of Left-Side Trading**

Counter-trend bottom-fishing or exiting early sounds great—if your judgment is accurate, you can acquire the cheapest chips before the market takes off, and the profit potential is much higher. Plus, during extreme market sentiment, the chances of being wrongly liquidated are indeed higher.

But this approach carries enormous risk. Operating against the trend means you must withstand ongoing counter-movements. A misstep could leave you stuck "bottom-fishing halfway up the mountain," causing psychological torment and demanding high precision in timing and emotional control. Small funds trying blindly often get out quickly.

**The Safety and Cost of Right-Side Trading**

Waiting for clear trend signals (such as a monthly golden cross or 60-day support) before entering reduces the risk and provides more confidence—no need to worry whether it's truly the bottom or top. Just stick to disciplined follow-through, and you can avoid most market noise and shakeouts.

The cost is—higher entry prices, possibly missing earlier profits, and when the trend reverses, easy to get caught on the wrong side or give back gains.

**Who Should Choose Which**

In simple terms, left-side trading relies on prediction to profit from price differences, requiring strong risk tolerance and emotional management; right-side trading depends on trend confirmation for certainty, which is the proper way to "make money systematically."

Small investors tend to favor right-side trading—using discipline to offset higher costs. Left-side trading demands strict position control and is suitable only for mature traders who can accurately identify trend reversals and stay calm.

Choosing the wrong approach in the crypto world means paying the price of constant trial and error. Choosing correctly allows you to steer steadily through these turbulent waters.